State Sen. Jason Crowell said he will continue to demand accountability for funds provided under the Caring for Missourians program even though Southeast Missouri State University has refused to enact restrictive policies.

In an e-mail to the Southeast Missourian that was copied to Southeast president Dr. Ken Dobbins, Crowell reiterated his concern that Missouri students should fill slots in the programs expanded under the health-care initiative.

Southeast's "unwillingness to sign on to this guiding principle shows me that its intention is to use Missouri taxpayer dollars to conceivably train Illinois students for health-care jobs in Kentucky," said Crowell, R-Cape Girardeau.

Under the program, public institutions will receive $40 million in stimulus funds for health-care training programs. Southeast will use its share of $1.17 million to start an accelerated nursing program, expand the family nurse practitioner program and renovate facilities.

On June 10, Crowell sent letters to Gov. Jay Nixon and Dobbins asking them to impose rules that would ensure the money serves Missouri students. Out-of-state students should not be admitted into the programs and students should commit to staying in the state after receiving their degree, he said.

Southeast's board of regents responded July 7 saying it would be impractical to impose the regulations. Crowell said he is evaluating the data presented in their letter and is working on his response.

Because the money is not put into scholarships, it would be hard to enforce the restrictions, Southeast provost Dr. Jane Stephens said. It would also limit the university's recruiting abilities.

"How could we recruit and certainly how could we limit our graduates?" she said.

Southeast will use $400,000 of the funds to renovate its simulation lab and buy equipment. The remaining money will be used to hire two faculty members and 6 to 8 part-time clinical instructors.

Ten students will be admitted into the newly created 18-month accelerated nursing program. Six slots will be added to the family nurse practitioner program, a two-year master's degree.

Based on the number of new students, said Crowell in his e-mail that Southeast's share equals $73,263 per student. Southeast officials dispute the calculation because the money will be spent during two to three years, increasing the number of students included.

The renovations and new instructors will also benefit the entire nursing department, Stephens said. None of the money is tied to scholarships for students in the program, she said.

"It's a mistake to do a per-student cost because the students are still paying their tuition," Stephens said.

The Caring for Missourians was not a program specifically earmarked in the state budget. Public institutions agreed together to use the one-time federal stabilization funds for health care education.

"Remember, the General Assembly did not create Caring for Missourians," Crowell said in the e-mail. "The governor and university presidents did."

There should still be program oversight even though Southeast spent the money in a way that is hard to tie accountability measures to, Crowell said.

"They could've put the money into a scholarship program," he said. "They chose not to."

abusch@semissourian.com

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One University Plaza Cape Girardeau, MO

Jefferson City, MO